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Vegemite and Scaramouche: Rock lyrics explained

What's a Vegemite sandwich? What did Elvis mean by "Purple Gang?" Here are eleven rock lyrics that are finally explained by the staff of MentalFloss.com:

"You're So Vain" - Carly Simon

"You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte."

Gavotte is a French folk dance popular in the late 16th century. It was a majestic dance filled with dramatic poses.

"Hotel California" - The Eagles

"Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air."

Don Henley and Glen Frey's manager at the time of the song said they were told the literal meaning of "colitas" was "little buds," or Spanish slang for marijuana.

"Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley

"The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang."

Detroit's Purple Gang smuggled booze via an underground railroad from Windsor, Ontario during prohibition. Sammie Cohen and the Purples were to Detroit what Al Capone and his men were to Chicago.

"Down Under" - Men At Work

They're Australian, so we have a few things to explain in this song...

"Traveling in a fried-out Kombi"

A Kombi is officially known as a Volkswagen Type 2 in Australia.We know it better as the VW Microbus.

"He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich"

Vegemite is an Aussie favorite - a paste made from yeast, vegetables, wheat and spices. It's used in sandwiches, on toast and in pastries.

"Where beer does flow and men chunder."

Some folks "chunder" after consuming too much beer, spoiled food or during a bout of the flu. It is slang for, well, you know...

"Surfin' USA" - The Beach Boys

"You'd see 'em wearin' their baggies.. Huarache sandals too..."

"Baggies" were boxer-style swim trunks that were preferred by surfers in the day. The extra fabric prevented surfboard wax from ripping out upper-leg hair when surfers slid to a standing position.

Huarache sandals are a woven-leather sandal that resembles a shoe more than a true sandal.

"The Joker" - The Steve Miller Band

"Some people call me Maurice, 'cause I speak of the pompatus of love"

The Medallions 1954 doo-wop hit "The Letter" had the lyric "Let me whisper sweet words of pizmotality and discuss the puppetutes of love." In true "S'cuse me while I kiss this guy" style, Miller transformed it into "pompatus" for his 1973 tune.

"500 Miles" - The Proclaimers

"And if I haver, yeah I know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you."

Charlie and Craig Reed's Scottish accents may make you think Havering is similar to Chundering. However, to haver is to simply babble or talk nonsense.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen

Again, there are several references in this 1975 hit that need some explanation...

"Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?"

Scaramouche is a traditional clown character featured in Italian commedia dell'arte.

He is a recurring character in "Punch and Judy" cartoons, and usually gets his head knocked off by Punch.

The Fandango is a Spanish couples dance that is accompanied by guitars, hand claps and castanets.

"Bismillah! No! We will not let you go..."Bismillah is an Arabic word that means "in the name of God." It is used at the head of nearly every chapter of the Holy Quran.